UK's security chief: Cooperation with Europe more vital now

Updated 7:27 am, Monday, May 14, 2018

LONDON (AP) — In a rare public speech, the director of Britain's domestic security service will say Monday that close cooperation with Europe is more vital than ever given the threat from the Islamic State extremist group and hostile states like Russia.

Partial remarks released by MI5 indicate that Andrew Parker will use a speech in Berlin to say that European security agencies trade "thousands" of tips each week in real time on secure networks.

The speech marks the first time a serving MI5 director has given a public speech outside Britain. Details on the location are being withheld. His talk to fellow European security chiefs comes as Britain is preparing to leave the European Union.

He says 12 plots in the U.K. have been thwarted since Parliament was attacked in March 2017.